This election season & violent Summer has seen the shadows of ugly shine a dark light on how slow progress is – and as the mirror reflects back with a face of de-evolution – we sit cow faced while hate steals the headlines & votes.

I couldn’t ask for anyone better than Gold Must Die to do a guest podcast to capture the anxiety, fear, and sorrow that dances off of satellites as we flick and like our privacy & dignity away. Hope still lives though, and Gold Must Die helps expose the shadow back into light.

Tyler Made’s back with another killer episode for Visions of the Unexcused – this time playing some of his recent Hip Hop favorites. If you’re in Singapore you can see Tyler DJ on the regular. If you’re on the internet you can listen to this excellent mix, along with some others, any time you want. All wise options.

*I’m humbled to have another guest DJ take over Visions of the Unexcused for Episode #52. Alyson has compiled a killer mix composed completely of artists from her home in Singapore. More on the podcast in her own words, below.

This mix is an ode to the burgeoning melting pot of shakers and movers in the music industry in Singapore. Our local music scene has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years and I have never been prouder. These renegades are fearless, brilliant, and trailblazers in their own right. I can’t wait for the world to experience the sounds of our little island.

Let this mix speak for itself. This is Singapore. The Lion City.

(Credits: Vasu, Tyler, and Samantha for all their help. Couldn’t have done it without them. Many thanks to Derek for giving the music in Singapore a whole lotta love).

I’m blessed to have another close friend submit their Visions to the Unexcused. Zac Trainor, aka Pyramid Ghost, brings an intensely layered and relevant mix, on this First Tuesday of November, 2012. The mix is a mosaic filled socio political banger, heavily influenced by campaign shenanigans, attitudes, & rhetoric – all done with a knowledgable wink, and an unfortunate nod. Happy Election Day. Our gift, to you.

*I had the fortune of having my good friend Tyler Made contribute a mix for Episode 48. Read below for his thoughts on the Episode, and you can find more of Tyler’s great work here. I love this retrospective take on Beck’s career, as not only are these Tyler’s favorite Beck songs, but it’s one from each individual album.
-Derek

As the many who listen to Visions of the Unexcused, Derek Hixon has inspired and influenced my music and what I’ve come to listen to and enjoy. His taste is unparalleled, and only matched by his hunger to hear more. Never jaded, fake or arrogant, he listens for love and shares that passion with anyone who lends an open ear – and it’s infectious. Those who don’t know him might be cynical of this description, but those who do are nodding their heads. This mix, or edited playlist for lack of a better description, is for Derek and because of Derek. For without him, I would have never paid any attention to Beck past what I heard on the radio, and I would have never known the depths and transformations he’s made as an artist. Truly amazing. So this one goes out to Derek and Beck. Thank you thank you thank you.
-Tyler

In the very first installment of Blobs On Tour, your humble guest host – Goop – takes the gang to South America for a crash course in exotic ways. Listen in wonderment as Goop effortlessly mashes stylings from around the world and takes a truly foreign land along for the ride. No Latin soul will be spared; no booty will go un-funked. This is Blobs On Tour.

Dave is an old friend from college who was gracious enough to guest DJ for episode 31. Dave hails from Atlanta, GA and DJ’s regularly around the city with his comrade in music, Drew, as DC² = DJs. Both are on a hell bent mission to keep the ATL listenable, and they’re doing a damn fine job of it. Below you’ll find the set list along with some brief explanations on Dave’s song choices. If you like what you hear (and you will) be sure to become a fan of DC² = DJs on Facebook, and be sure to give Dave a shout-out.

While I no longer listen to Soul Asylum, I saw Lulu perform this song with them on MTV unplugged back in middle school and I’ve loved it ever since…even after I dreamt of young Dave Pirner strangling me with his nasty dreadlocks.

I remember when I first got into this band, I found their first EP in our old CD library atWONY and a promoter told me to listen to this song on headphones…what a difference it makes…turned me into the obsessive Spoon fan I am today.